Clarke Central High School varsity swim and dive swimmers Aniyah Buckley (left) and Sinai Mack (right), seniors, pose at the ODYSSEY Media Group’s 2024 Winter Media Day in the CCHS Competition Gym on Nov. 3. Head varsity swim and dive coach Emily Hulse felt confident in the team’s chances at their upcoming meet on Dec. 6 at Morgan County High School. “(MCHS is) really similar to our team, but I think we have a few more year-round swimmers to usually give us an edge,” Hulse said. Photo by Ma’Kiyah Thrasher
The CCHS varsity swim and dive team will compete at Morgan County High School on Dec. 6.
In the third meet of their season, the Clarke Central High School varsity swim and dive team will compete against Morgan County High School, Athens Academy and Eastside High School at MCHS on Dec. 6.
The team has placed fifth out of 10 and fourth out of 11 in their two meets so far at Habersham Central High School and their home location, the University of Georgia’s Ramsey Student Center, respectively.
“Because most of our meets here in Georgia are invitational-style, we have to invite a lot of teams,” CCHS head varsity swim and dive coach Emily Hulse said. “So it’s a lot of people, and it takes a long time to get through all the different heats (and) all the different events.”
“At a meet like this, everybody scores points. That makes a difference. It really gives those kids who aren’t the top swimmers a chance to feel like they’re contributing to winning a meet,”
— Emily Hulse,
CCHS head varsity swim and dive coach
The Dec. 6 meet will have a total of four teams competing, contrasting with previous invitational meets that had 10 and 11 teams. According to Hulse, fewer teams means that more swimmers from each team will be able to score points.
“At a meet like this, everybody scores points. That makes a difference. It really gives those kids who aren’t the top swimmers a chance to feel like they’re contributing to winning a meet,” Hulse said.
To CCHS varsity swim and dive team member Vivian Carabello, a senior, the smaller meet provides an opportunity to make personal record times and practice for success later on in the season, which will culminate in the Georgia High School Association State Swimming and Diving Meet at the Georgia Institute of Technology on Feb. 5.
“I always find (the Morgan County meet is) the best time to get a good time because you’re racing yourself, you’re racing with your team, trying to get good times, and it’s less about the competition,” Carabello said.
